'NEET 2025 in dark': MP High Court orders re-test for Indore, Ujjain students; MCC counselling delayed

In a significant development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Indore has ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to hold a re-test of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - Undergraduate (NEET UG 2025) for the candidates affected in Indore and Ujjain exam centres due to power outage.

Justice Subodh Abhyankar observed that the petitioners were put at a disadvantage without there being any fault on their part. The petitioners’ rank in the retest shall be considered for admission, the court said.

As indicated in the court earlier, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) was tentatively scheduled to begin the NEET UG counselling 2025 from today, July 1. However, the court directed that the NEET counselling 2025 shall be subject to the final results of the petitioners in the re-exam.

The decision will impact around 12 lakh (12,36,531) candidates who have qualified NEET to pursue MBBS, BDS and other allied courses in medical and dental colleges. The MCC NEET UG counselling, which was scheduled to begin today, is now expected to be delayed due to the court’s re-exam directive.

“Since the tentative counselling date is 01.07.2025, it is directed that the counselling shall be subject to the final result of the petitioner/s in the re-test,” the court order read.

NEET chaos: What happened in Indore, Ujjain?

The NEET UG exam 2025, the single-largest entrance test, was conducted by the NTA on May 4 from 2 pm to 5 pm at several exam centres across India. It is the sole entrance exam for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in the country.

Students aspiring to be doctors and their parents across the country complained about several instances of mismanagement, such as biometric failures, delayed entry, and disruption in the supply of electricity.

In Indore, the petitioners claimed that there was a substantial disruption in the supply of electricity leading to power outage, which resulted in students giving the NEET exam in the dark. The students submitted that it affected their performance in the exam and there was no additional time given for the time lost.

Around 200 students, who appeared in the exam, have filed the petitions. Some of them appeared in ILVA Higher Secondary School, Indore; Shri Vaishnav Academy School; and Madhav College.

The petitioners submitted media reports on power outage at these areas and a press statement of the “India Meteorological Department, ministry of earth sciences, which also forecasted rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm and squally/gusty winds which were likely to continue over Northwest India till 7th May 2025.”

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NTA’s response

Scores of candidates, who had appeared in various other centres across the city of Indore and Ujjain, in which there was a power outage, said that “the natural light was not sufficient, and no alternative source of light was provided”.

Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, who argued on behalf of the NTA and Union ministry, told the court that alternative arrangements like candle lights, emergency lights, torches, power backup, inverter etc. were provided. A similar statement was issued by the city coordinator of NEET zone-1, Indore, stating that exams in all 12 centres in zone-1 were conducted peacefully.

It further stated that, according to the statistical analysis of the number of questions attempted by petitioners and non-affected students in Indore, it was found that there was no adverse impact on the performance.

“On analysis of marks obtained by all candidates from affected centres, 11 have scored above 600/720 marks and are considered toppers in NEET (UG) 2025,” the NTA said.

It also referred to the recent order passed by the Madras High Court, which rejected a similar power outage claim.

Also read How was NEET 2025 exam? Biometric failures, delays threaten students’ MBBS dreams

‘NEET 2025 in the dark’

A total of 27,264 candidates registered to appear for the NEET UG exam in 49 exam centres in Indore. The allegation of power outage was filed by 78 petitioners from 30 exam centres.

MP High Court’s judgment on NEET UG 2025

The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the NTA to conduct NEET re-exam “as expeditiously as possible and declare the results. It is made clear that the petitioner/s rank based solely on her/their scores in the re-test shall be considered”.

“Since the tentative counselling date is 01.07.2025, it is directed that the counselling shall be subject to the final result of the petitioner/s in the re-test,” it said.

“The petitioners who have filed the petitions on or after the 3rd of June, 2025 when the provisional answer key was released, would not be entitled to re-examination, as they apparently took a chance by not filing the petition in time and waited for the declaration of results,” the order read.